Then one fortuitous day, I found Citizens’ Climate Lobby via Facebook. After reading about CCL’s Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal at citizensclimatelobby.org, I decided to risk stepping out of my introverted comfort zone to check out my closest active CCL chapter, which is an hour’s drive away in Fayetteville. That decision and the warm welcome I received from the wonderful folks who make up CCL Fayetteville, changed my life. Becoming active in CCL has transfigured my heartbreak into hope, pragmatic optimism, and enthusiasm.

I’ve read about many courageous and innovative climate change actions unfolding around the world. There is so much good work to be celebrated; perhaps you are part of such a group effort or are diligently undertaking your own climate mission. Certainly both personal and broader public efforts are essential! I would love to hear about your passion, your vision, your message, and your efforts.

From June 19th – 21st, eleven of us (students, business people, teachers, retirees) from Arkansas joined with 1000 other CCL’ers in Washington D.C. to hone our knowledge and advocacy skills and to meet with members of Congress. The energy of togetherness, responsibility, and possibility in the conference gatherings was electrifying! Still, I was a little nervous. Never in my life had I envisioned myself walking through the Hart Senate Office building or crowding into a conference room in the Longworth House Office Building to speak up for the planet, myself, and my fellow human beings! Yet there I was (despite the butterflies in my stomach) with an inspired team of Arkansas CCL’ers (I can’t emphasize the enjoyable, heart-full, intelligent nature of this team enough) engaging with Congressional representatives and staff in earnest dialogue.

Now here I am back home in the beautiful Ozarks. The physical, scientific facts of climate change still stand stark. But I’m energized to go forward, pushing the envelope of my personal comfort zone, in concert with my CCL colleagues, to bring about climate change solution legislation and a measure of healing to our home. That feels good.